There are various ways you can save on air conditioning expenses this summer. A great starting point would be enrolling in budget billing or energy savings discounts offered through your utility company.
You should try to attract less heat into your home during the day to save money. Cooking, taking hot showers, and doing laundry are all activities that create heat that requires your air conditioning unit to work overtime and thus increase expenses.
Want to start saving money? Continue reading to get started!
Afterward, you can click here to learn how to claim an APS air conditioner rebate.
Table of Contents
1. Keep Your AC On During the Day
Experts agree that leaving an air conditioner running continuously throughout the day with its temperature setting increased is more energy efficient and reduces wear-and-tear on its system than turning it on and off repeatedly.
Programmable thermostats can save you money by automatically lowering the temperature when no one is home. Planting trees is also an excellent way to lower cooling costs, as their leaves block sunlight from entering the house.
2. Turn Off Heat-Producing Appliances During the Day
Home appliances that produce significant heat, such as ovens, dishwashers, and dryers, should preferably be used early mornings or evenings when temperatures tend to be lower.
Replace old incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones that use less energy, and keep draperies and shades drawn during the day to block sunlight from penetrating unoccupied rooms. Ceiling fans should also be set so they move counterclockwise for optimal cooling effects.
3. Set Your Thermostat Higher
Maintain a higher temperature setting during your absence to minimize energy use and costs at home. Dropping temperatures require your AC unit to work harder to catch up, using more energy and increasing bills at month’s end.
The Department of Energy suggests setting the temperature to 78 degrees when at home and 85 degrees when away; using a programmable thermostat can help ensure you keep to this schedule and save on energy costs.
4. Draw the Curtains During the Hotter Hours
Summer sun can quickly warm your living space, forcing your air conditioner to work overtime. Adding shade, such as awnings or medium-colored curtains that reflect sunlight into your home, could help save you money on cooling costs.
Carefully-placed trees and trellises can provide your house with an additional protective shield of shade, helping reduce energy bills. Incorporating ceiling fans into rooms you frequently visit could also have the same effect, providing wind chill that makes temperatures feel 6-7 degrees cooler.
5. Turn Off Lights During the Day
Air conditioning can relieve an otherwise scorching summer heat wave but at a considerable price tag. By turning off lights during the day and saving energy, you can significantly lower your cooling bill while prolonging the lifespan of light bulbs to cut replacement costs and save money in replacement costs.
Incandescent bulbs emit 90 percent of their electricity as heat and are particularly wasteful. Switch to LED ones instead to reduce wasteful usage and save on electricity costs.
6. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats can help you save money on electricity costs. By monitoring energy use and making adjustments when prices increase, smart thermostats allow users to take steps towards saving.
Smart thermostats also offer features such as geofencing and away mode, which help keep your house cooler while you are away by limiting system overloading.
7. Replace Your AC Unit
If your AC unit is outdated and no longer performing at its optimal levels, replacing it could save money in the long run.
Ducts that are filled with dirt, dust, and mold can obstruct airflow and strain your system, leading to reduced efficiency.
Unified HVAC systems that use heat pumps also help lower energy costs; however, these tend to cost more upfront.
8. Keep Your Home Cool
Cooling costs can quickly skyrocket during the heat of summer, but these expenses can be reduced with some proactive strategies.
Use fans to keep the air moving and reduce energy bills while staying comfortable on hot days.
Keep your windows closed during the day but open them at night to let cooler air in.
9. Turn Off the Heat
Air conditioners that run nonstop are an easy way to exceed your utility bill budget for the month. To save energy, try limiting heat production in your home by cooking on a grill, using an outdoor clothesline, and switching off lights that produce heat.
Some homeowners believe that keeping their house cool at night helps them sleep more soundly; however, that may not necessarily be true for all families.
